Is Adelaide Crows star Eddie Betts the best forward currently in the AFL?
That was the question posed on on NITV on Thursday night and by a man who knows a thing or two - or 549 - about goal kicking; former Collingwood champion and AFL Hall of Fame member, Peter Daicos.
“I think by a mile,” Daicos said in favour of Betts.
“I think the work he does inside 50 is really second to none. And aside from kicking goals, he creates them.”
Betts kicked six goals against Essendon last round after a week when the spotlight was on the two-time All-Australian .
“I think the work he [Betts] does inside 50 is really second to none. And aside from kicking goals, he creates them.” - Daicos Source: NITV
“I think he answered it the best possible way and that is on the field and I think it gave you a bit of a snapshot of his mental toughness,” Daicos said.
“So clearly he was able to put it to good use and unfortunately the bombers were on the end of it.”
Betts has kicked 495 goals from his 257 games in the AFL, having been Adelaide’s leading goalkicker the past three years, along with Carlton’s in 2012 and 2010.
The 30-year-old currently shares the lead in the Coleman Medal with Geelong’s , with both having snagged 16 through the first four rounds.
Another Hawkins, Bulldogs legend and AFL Hall of Fame member , was keen to go even further than comparing Betts with his present company.
“Has he been the best mid-sized forward player in the last 35 years?,” Hawkins asked host of The Marngrook Footy Show and former St Kilda and Brisbane player Gilbert McAdam.
“Would you rate Daicos or would you rate Betts - who’s a better player? Peter Daicos or Eddie Betts?”
“Would you rate Daicos or would you rate Betts - who’s a better player? Peter Daicos or Eddie Betts?”
Mcadam, in the company of Daicos, said Betts still has a little way to go.
“I was lucky enough to see Daics and I was lucky enough to see Eddie,” McAdam said.
“Would you rate Daicos or would you rate Betts - who’s a better player? Peter Daicos or Eddie Betts?” - Doug Hawkins Source: NITV
“In fairness to Daics, back when they played, or you and I played, there was more one on ones. There was always one on ones, they were always tagging you. Today, it’s not so much one one one and tagging.
“I’d still say Daics at the moment but the way Eddie’s going he’ll probably finish with more goals than Daics.”
Another Indigenous forward to impress in the AFL on the weekend was Essendon’s , who kicked four goals against the Crows.
“The way he’s playing, he’s been in the top five of their best players in the first four rounds. This kid’s gone to another level,” McAdam said.
Four-time AFL premiership winner Shaun Burgoyne has also been impressed by the Tiwi Islander’s form in front of goals in 2017.
“It’s been a good move because he started off in the backline and they wanted some forward pressure up there and they moved him up there - he’s created that forward pressure with his speed,” Burgoyne said.
“I watched the game last week, they played over in Adelaide and he did pretty well kicking four goals and adding a lot of pressure.
“And he’s got very good skills, left and right foot and he’s a little nugget, I’ve seen him hit some players too.”
So what do you think? Is Eddie Betts the greatest forward in the AFL today?
What about him being as good or even better than former Collingwood star Peter Daicos?
For more footy discussion, tune in to every Thursday night, live on NITV from 7.30pm, or via the catch-up service - Or head to the NITV’s or pages to get involved in the conversation.
Source: NITV
